The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Friends of the Library recently presented a Kindle Star to the winner of their raffle, Dagmar Karppi. The presentation was made by Marion Robertson and Elizabeth Roosevelt, active members of the Friends.
“I was surprised and delighted when director Suzanne Koch called and said I won the Kindle Star,” said Karppi. “The Kindle Star is incredible: it is a media center in a small package. I’m just beginning to see all it can do.”
She added,“I hadn’t expected to win anything, I bought the tickets to support the library. This is a bonus.”
Karppi continued,“I love the library and couldn’t do without it. My quilt group meets there the second and fourth week of the month and many of us stop at the discard table to find books by favorite authors or to find new writers. The Friends of the Library used to hold book sales when there were more active members but now the library puts out the discards that sell for a quarter.”
Robertson, the secretary of the Friends, explained,“We did the book sales for 17 years and it was a good fundraiser for the library. It took a lot of physical work. We sorted at one end of the library and then had to move the books to the other end. That’s why we turned to the raffles.
“What we would like is more members who are active and have more ideas on fundraising. When we appeal for volunteers we don’t get them. We do have a lot of members who give dues, which are reasonable. With a few more members, that would keep the money coming in for projects.”
Their funds mostly go to the Children’s Summer Reading Program and over the years they have provided the benches outside the library, the video drop box and the garden sprinklers.
“The mural was our first project, our first gift to the library, and there were countless other gifts over the years,” said Robertson.
“Now, without a large income, we concentrate on the children’s programs,” Robertson continued. “We provide passes to the Cradle of Aviation and the Nassau Museum of Art and sponsored the children’s Lego program. Yes, we’ve done quite a lot, but what we would like is more members and more funds.”
Robertson keeps busy. Besides working for the Friends, she volunteers with the auxiliary at the Glen Cove Hospital. She is a “Pink Lady” who works in the Emergency Department, is on the board and does publicity for the auxiliary.
“It’s a very caring hospital and all the people are lovely,” she said.
Elizabeth Roosevelt pulled the winning raffle ticket and said at the presentation that it is “nice when you know the winner.” Roosevelt is active at the Oyster Bay Historical Society where she is the manager of their gift shop. She is also on the board of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
Robertson commented that they don’t plan to do another raffle. The community seems to have enough of their own electronic items and not to be as interested in the raffles now. They are going to come up with something new in the fall.
If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Library, you, too, can help “bring to our community the information, education and cultural resources that will enhance the lives of its residents, young and old,” as they say on their website.
The annual membership fees are: individual, $10; senior, $8; family, $15; supporter, $35 and corporate, $100. Please make checks payable to The Friends of the OB-EN Public Library. You can download the membership application from their website. For more information call 516-922-1212.
